Does anyone know if there is a way to convert the BTU's produced by burning one gallon of propane to the same amount of electrical energy produced by resistance heating?
I'm trying to figure out which energy source is cheaper to use, propane gas at $0.95 per gallon or electrical energy at $00.55 per kilowatt hour.
Since natural gas or propane consumption is measured in BTU's per cubic foot or gallon and electrical resistance heating is measured in kilowatts, how much will I spend cooking a turkey for 4 hours at 350F using either source of heat?

The turkey is for practical example only. I really prefer standing rib roast.

Maybe the following from this page could be of help.

Quote:

---

Propane Versus Electricity Costs

When comparing the costs of electricity and propane, the British Thermal Unit (BTU) content of each energy source must be considered in order to give the comparison a "common denominator." A British Thermal Unit is a unit of measure for the heating value of a fuel.

Electricity has 3,413 BTUs per kilowatt hour and propane has 91,500 BTUs per gallon.

Since electricity is I 00 percent efficient at the point of use, there are 3,413 usable BTUs in one kwh of electricity (100% x 3,413 = 3,413 BTUs). But even when 80 percent is used as the efficiency factor for propane (some propane appliances are able to achieve a 97 percent efficiency), there are still 73,000 usable BTUs in one gallon of propane (80% x 91,500 = 73,000 BTUs).

Therefore, one gallon of propane contains the usable energy equivalent of 21.44 kwhs of electricity (73,000 + 3,413 = 21.44). Simply, this means that if one gallon of propane sold for 21.44 times as much as one kwh of electricity, the cost per BTU would be equal. But propane users for much less than this. In fact, according to 1990 Department of Energy (DOE) figures based on national averages, propane costs about a third as much to use as electricity.

---

SUPER! Thank you, roos. I had no idea how to google the question so I posted it for our superb solvers at FT. Thanks again!

Your welcome fjohn...........now tell me what a "low built"house [I have spent 5 hours so far on that one to date] is and we will be even.

In the UK it appears to mean any house which is ground floor and one other floor above. http://www.primelocation.com/HKSA02498 is a typical advert.

I must say that I am not completely convinced as most houses are ground floor and one above and are not given that description. Earlier today I sent an e-mail to the former president of our local estate agents association, hopefully she will confirm the meaning.

It has to be an American term, Sue (i.e. unfathomable) !!!

American term, indeed! Harrumph.
My Webster's doesn't have the definition except to obliquely say that it refers to being built lower than surrounding structures. I have no idea why this would be a selling point when the price generally goes up with elevation.

No Ren, the adverts satguru linked to showed large, very expensive homes in the posher parts of London such as St John's Wood, prices of over a million.

This is the email reply I received from the ex-president of the Jersey Estate Agents Association.

Quote:

---

Good morning,

One doesn't always have to earn a fee to reply to a request like this!
I'm sorry though, as it seems that I can shed no light on this at all as it's not an expression we've ever used over here. I wonder if it could possibly be that which we term a "dormer bungalow" or a "chalet bungalow". Those, as I'm sure you will know, are bungalows with high roofs to which dormers or velux have been added.

I'm attaching a picture in the hope that it may be helpful to you. If you do find out for certain what it is - perhaps you could let me know so. Most estate agents over here nowadays know more about used cars than estate agency so I like to keep up with current trends if possible!

Kind regards

Wendy

---

Well it certainly isn't a chalet or dormer bungalow. I will send her one of the links, perhaps she will take the matter up with people in the UK for us.

At least she responded to my email unlike the advertiser in London!